Katy ISD held its first-ever district Student Leadership Conference, Taking the Lead, to engage high school students from all schools and all grades in learning about leadership, teamwork and unity. Students also participated in providing feedback to the district as Superintendent Alton Frailey asked for their input on assessing the current needs and issues facing students.
Roosevelt Alexander Elementary celebrated its 10th year of academic success at a school-wide celebration on Friday, April 18, with Roosevelt Alexander himself as a special guest in the school gymnasium. Seated from left to right are: Christie Whitbeck, inaugural principal; Ashley Vann, PTA president; Elissa Farris, former principal; Kristin Harper, principal; and namesake Roosevelt Alexander.
Katy ISD and Partners In Education honored more than 1,250 Volunteers In Public Schools at the annual VIPS breakfast in April where they celebrated the 2008 Volunteers of the Year (pictured left) selected from each campus, and more than 530,700 hours of service.
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More than 800 Katy ISD retirees, employees and guests were entertained at the 2008 Employee Service Awards banquet by a hearty band of pirates from Morton Ranch High School and a Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator who perfectly executed the character. Twenty-eight retirees were "captured" and taken to the stage to "walk the plank" and be honored by Mr. Frailey and the Board of Trustees.
Sophia Guerrero, a third grade student at Schmalz Elementary, won Reliant Energy’s Power of Art Program in the elementary category. Her artwork titled, “Indian Fire Dancer” was selected from the top 25 elementary school submissions by the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo’s School Art Program, which has more than 300,000 entries from all grades each year. The public selected Guerrero’s as the “people’s choice.” Pictured left are: Sylvia Sykula, art student-teacher; Sophia Guerrero; Susan Urband, art teacher; and Sherry Doll, art teacher.
Nirali Desai, an eighth grade student at McMeans Junior High, won second place in the Texas Department of Transportation Art Contest. The 2008 art contest theme was commercial aviation and Desai’s picture was inspired by recognizable monuments that she thought would be fun to draw and color. Desai will receive awards and recognition from the state and two roundtrip Southwest Airline tickets.
Gavin Chin, an eighth grade student at Beck Junior High, took home the Junior High Grand Champion award from the Houston Rodeo art competition for his drawing of a cowboy titled, “Facing the Sunset.”
There were also 10 Katy ISD high school students who participated in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Auction March 16, earning $22,500 for their artwork and raising $181,000 for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo general fund. Pictured: Gavin Chin (center) stands with his teacher Ann Harrah (left) and Mitzi Jones (right) at the Livestock Show and Rodeo after receiving his trophies for Junior High Grand Champion in the art competition.